Freshwater Jellyfish - Star Lake

Status

Verified

Date First Found

9/22/2011

About
Freshwater Jellyfish

The freshwater jellyfish found in Wisconsin are one of several species of Craspedacusta native to China. Two species (C. sowerbii and C. sinensis) live in the Yangtze River - the world's third longest river and one so vast it makes the Wisconsin River seem like a trout stream! Freshwater jellyfish were first reported in North America as early as 1884. Sightings in Wisconsin date back to 1969. Much more remains to be learned about these fascinating creatures. Although they probably evolved from estuarine species, themselves descendents of ocean jellyfish, little is known about the evolution of freshwater jellyfish. That's because jellyfish leave no fossil records.